Abella Italian Kitchen

I was so excited when Living Social offered this deal that I ordered without even stopping to check where Abella Italian Kitchen was located … Wilsonville? Yikes! My husband has been really awesome about taking me to these different restaurants but he doesn’t really like it when I select a place that’s outside Portland. So, I asked my daughter to join me instead, and I had a nice luncheon with her.

Broiled Polenta

Location: 8309 SW Main Street, Wilsonville, Oregon

Order: For an appetizer, we ordered the Broiled Polenta ($6.95). I ordered the Chicken Piccata entree ($13.95) and a refreshing glass of Marionberry Lemonade.

What I Think:

It was such a lovely day when we visited Abella Italian Restaurant that we decided to dine outside on the patio. Our server, Cody, was an exceptionally nice and attentive server. Very friendly and personable. If you’ve been reading many of my restaurant reviews, you know that I don’t make it a habit to comment on the service unless it really stands out for being either very good or very bad … here, it was VERY good.

My daughter ordered the Chicken Caesar Salad and she loved it!

We were served our drinks right away, and the Marionberry Lemonade was really good. I liked that while it was a little on the sweeter side than your typical lemonade (thanks to the marionberries), it wasn’t too sweet. Cody told us that he makes the marionberry puree himself with fresh marionberries, and the freshness of these berries could be tasted. A nice balance between sweet and tart, and I enjoyed it so much that I’d revisit this restaurant for nothing more but a glass of the refreshing lemonade.

The Broiled Polenta was delicious. The polenta was creamy on the inside with a slight crispiness from the broiled crust. The gorgonzola cheese added a palate-pleasing tangy note to the dish, and the tomato sauce tasted freshly made.
I found it to be very filling, though, I think I would have been satisfied to order just this as my luncheon appetizer.

But then, I wouldn’t have had the Chicken Piccata, and really, this was the highlight of the lunch. Not the service (which was exemplary), not the lemonade (which was stunning), not even the polenta that I enjoyed so much. The Chicken Piccata outshined everything, and really, isn’t that what you want when you visit a restaurant? For your entree to be the crowning moment of the event?

The best Chicken Picatta I’ve ever had.

I love Chicken Piccata anyway, it’s one of my favorite dishes, but it’s one that sometimes just isn’t done right. Even when it’s not done right, it is still good, but, it isn’t something that I’d sing praises over like I’m doing with this dish. The chicken was so tender it seemed to melt in my mouth, and the sauce was a perfect balance of flavors and textures. I could taste the garlic and the touch of wine, it was buttery and sweet and the capers gave it just the right amount of salty taste. The pasta was cooked al dente and the sauce was a creamy delight. It was a medley of flavor and texture. Sublime!

My Final Thoughts:

While the place is a little pricy, if I had the chance to visit again (hopefully another Living Social voucher will come my way!) I would. And, while I’d like to say that I’d explore the menu and try something new, I probably wouldn’t. The Chicken Piccata was just too good, I would order it again in a heartbeat. Perhaps my exploration will take place with the appetizer!